Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona (1977)Schroeder, Albert H.
History
Montezuma Castle National Monument, Arizona (1977)
Schroeder, Albert H.
Indians of North America -- Arizona; Montezuma Castle National Monument (Ariz.); Sinagua culture
Rocks which were cleared from the farm areas were lined up to mark the
edges of small plots. Dirt was thrown over these rocks so water would
not escape when the plots were irrigated. Some of the brush was saved
for making dams to divert water from the main ditch to each of the farm
plots. Small limbs from fallen trees were fashioned into digging and
planting sticks. The fields were leveled with their stone hoes and tree
limbs were dragged over the soil in a final smoothing process.
[Illustration: _Yucca-fiber sandal made by prehistoric Indians of
Montezuma Castle._]
Finally they were ready for their planting. They had brought seeds of
food crops—corn, beans, and squash—which were planted in these plots.
Cotton was also planted. Then the water was turned onto the fields to
complete their labor.
During the course of their pioneering work, this small group of Indians
probably lived on the edge of the bluff above the fields and in three
small caves along the bluff bordering their ditch. Food was not lacking,
as the plants in the area provided them with many essentials. Mesquite
beans, a common staple among the Indians, were plentiful in the late
summer and autumn, as were walnuts, berries, wild gourds, and sunflower
seeds.
Other plants, particularly yucca, supplied necessary fibers for making
sandals, matting, cordage, baskets, and other articles. Reeds and
hardwoods were available to make bows and arrows and other wooden
implements for hunting rabbits and ducks around the Well. Hunting
parties no doubt went to the foothills for larger game such as deer.
At about the same time that the Hohokam were in the valley, another
group of Indians whom we call the “Sinagua,” lived in the forested
foothills to the north and east, and on the plateau above. Their small
villages were located in open areas that could be dry farmed, as they
depended on rain water for their crops. Their houses, like those of the
Hohokam, were made of poles, brush, and mud; however, they were dug into
the ground, with just a small portion of the walls and the roof
projecting above the ground level.
[Illustration: _Sunset Crater north of Flagstaff._]
Their utensils and habits were similar to those of the Hohokam, though
different in some respects. For example, in contrast to the Hohokam
practice, the Sinagua polished their plain brown pottery. Also, it is
known that after 1070, they buried their dead in an extended position
instead of cremating them as the Hohokam did. Although the Sinagua were
basically farmers like the Hohokam, at this time they depended to a
greater extent on foods they gathered and meat they hunted than they did
later.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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